There are 14 other file types using
the DAT file extension!

dat icon.dat - Video CD MPEG movie MPEG1 [common]

empty icon.dat - Game data [common]

empty icon.dat - Sony Digital Audio Tape

dat icon.dat - Microsoft Internet Explorer cache

dat icon.dat - SPOT image format

empty icon.dat - Unreal Tournament game data

dat icon.dat - Nero BackItUp drive image

empty icon.dat - Shareaza thumbnail

empty icon.dat - Thumbnail cache

empty icon.dat - SWAT database

empty icon.dat - Tecplot ASCII data

empty icon.dat - Barudan Embroidery format

empty icon.dat - Bitcoin wallet

empty icon.dat - Prince of Persia game data

DAT file extension - Program data

What is dat file? How to open dat files?

File type specification:

Various data file type icon Various data file type

File extension dat is traditionally used by many various applications or programs for their data or resource files.

Data files cannot be opened directly in an application, they often contain data for internal purposes only. Different formats sharing the same file extension.

Most notably, the dat file extension was and still is commonly used for system files in MS-DOS and Windows operating systems. For example the Windows/System32 folder in latest Windows 10 is still full of various .dat files.

But overall, a .dat file may be anything. If you are unsure about the origins of your .dat file, first and foremost run some antivirus software. Once you know the file is safe, use FileAlyzer to determine the origin of your file.

Updated: March 25, 2024

The default software associated to open dat file:

FileAlyzer icon

FileAlyzer  Microsoft Windows software

Company or developer:
Safer-Networking Ltd.

FileAlyzer allows a basic analysis of files (showing file properties and file contents in hex dump form) and is able to interpret common file contents like resources structures (like text, graphics, HTML, media and PE).

Related articles:

How to open DAT files

Help how to open:

Generally speaking, .dat files are not meant to be opened directly. They just contain resources for the program from which originate.

How to convert:

With few notably exceptions, most .dat files are not meant to be converted to anything else.

List of recommended software applications associated to the .dat file extension

Recommended software programs are sorted by OS platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android etc.)
and possible program actions that can be done with the file: like open dat file, edit dat file, convert dat file, view dat file, play dat file etc. (if exist software for corresponding action in File-Extensions.org's database).

Unspecified and all other actions for computer programs working with dat file - Program data

Click on the software link for more information about FileAlyzer. FileAlyzer uses dat file type for its internal purposes and/or also by different way than common edit or open file actions (eg. to install/execute/support an application itself, to store application or user data, configure program etc.).

Microsoft Windows:

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